Hermetic scroll compressor

ABSTRACT

Provided is a hermetic scroll compressor comprising: an upper frame which supports an upper side of a driving shaft and has an oil pocket at a center portion thereof so that oil can be accumulated therein; a fixed scroll fixed to the upper frame; an orbiting scroll which is revolved between the fixed scroll and the upper frame so as to compress fluid; an Oldham ring having two upper keys inserted into a side of the orbiting scroll and two lower keys inserted into a side of the upper frame; a lower key groove formed at the upper frame so that the lower key is accommodated therein so as to be linearly reciprocated; and an oil supplying structure formed at a body of the upper frame so as to supply the oil from the oil pocket to the lower key groove. The friction generated between the orbiting scroll and the thrust surface of the upper frame can be minimized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hermetic scroll compressor, and more particularly, to a scroll compressor adapted to smoothly supply oil to a thrust surface of an upper frame and a lower key portion of an Oldham ring to prevent components from being worn by friction and also prevent generation of frictional heat.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a compressor is a means for converting mechanical energy into compressive energy, and largely classified into a reciprocating type, a scroll type, a centrifugal type and a vane type. Particularly, a scroll compressor is widely used in an air conditioner and a refrigerator.

Further, the scroll compressor can be classified into a low-pressure scroll compressor and a high-pressure scroll compressor.

In detail, the scroll compressor is classified into the low-pressure scroll compressor and the high-pressure scroll compressor according as whether a casing thereof is filled with suction gas or exhaust gas.

In addition, the scroll compressor is formed with a spiral scroll wrap, and performs a compressing action by a relative motion between a fixed scroll fixed regardless of rotation of a driving shaft and an orbiting scroll revolved by the rotation of the driving shaft.

The typical related art low-pressure scroll compressor includes a driving motor having a rotor and a stator, a driving shaft which is rotated by rotation of the driving motor and has an eccentric portion at an upper portion thereof, and an upper frame which is fitted to an upper side of the driving shaft so as to support the driving shaft and has an oil pocket at an edge portion of a center groove.

The related art low-pressure scroll compressor further includes a scroll compressing portion having an orbiting scroll which is positioned at an upper side of the upper frame, for compressing sucked coolant by an orbiting motion, a fixed scroll which is engaged with the orbiting scroll and fixed to the upper side of the upper frame, and a Oldham ring which allows the orbiting scroll to be orbited in the fixed scroll.

In the above-mentioned scroll compressor, oil is accumulated in the oil pocket formed at the upper frame. The accumulated oil is infiltrated into a fractional portion between a lower surface of the orbiting scroll and the thrust surface of the upper frame by the revolution of the orbiting scroll. Thus, a contact surface is lubricated.

The scroll compressor operated by the above-mentioned operating principle is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,441 filed by the applicant of the present invention.

However, when the related art scroll compressor as described above is overloaded during a compressing process, the orbiting scroll is tightly contacted with the thrust surface. As the result, the oil from the oil pocket cannot be sufficiently supplied to the fractional portion between the orbiting scroll and the upper frame.

Furthermore, the oil cannot be smoothly supplied to a fractional surface between the orbiting scroll and an upper key of an Oldham ring, and also to a fractional surface between a lower key of the Oldham ring and the upper frame.

As described above, since the oil cannot be sufficiently supplied to the fractional portions, there are some problems that components are severely worn by fraction and a change in oil characteristic is occurred by fractional heat.

In addition, there is a further problem that noise and vibration is generated by the fraction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a scroll compressor that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a scroll compressor with an improved upper frame structure, which is smoothly lubricated even when a compressing portion of the scroll compressor is overloaded.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a scroll compressor in which components is prevented from being worn by friction, and generation of frictional heat as well as generation of noise and vibration is also prevented.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a hermetic scroll compressor comprising: an upper frame which supports an upper side of a driving shaft and has an oil pocket at a center portion thereof so that oil can be accumulated therein; a fixed scroll fixed to the upper frame; an orbiting scroll which is revolved between the fixed scroll and the upper frame so as to compress fluid; an Oldham ring having two upper keys inserted into a side of the orbiting scroll and two lower keys inserted into a side of the upper frame; a lower key groove formed at the upper frame so that the lower key is accommodated therein so as to be linearly reciprocated; and an oil supplying structure formed at a body of the upper frame so as to supply the oil from the oil pocket to the lower key groove.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hermetic scroll compressor comprising: an upper frame which supports an upper side of a driving shaft; a scroll compressing portion disposed at the upper frame so as to be revolved to compress fluid; an oil supplying structure formed at a body of the upper frame so as to supply the oil to the scroll compressing portion; and an oil supplying portion having an oil passage formed along an inner portion of a driving shaft so as to supply the oil to the oil supplying structure, and an oil feeder for pushing up the oil to the oil passage.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hermetic scroll compressor comprising: an upper frame which supports an upper side of a driving shaft and has an oil storing portion at a center portion thereof so that oil can be accumulated therein; at least one or more scroll member which is revolved on the upper frame so as to compress fluid; an Oldham ring having at least one upper key coupled to the scroll member and at least one lower key inserted into a side of the upper frame; and an oil supplying structure formed at a side of the upper frame so as to supply oil from the oil storing portion to a surface of the lower key.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the hermetic scroll compressor further comprises an Oldham ring having an upper key protruded on an upper side surface thereof and a lower key protruded on a lower side surface thereof; and an upper frame having a lower key groove in which the lower key is accommodated to be reciprocated, an oil pocket formed at a center portion thereof to accumulate oil, and an oil groove and oil hole for supplying the oil from the oil pocket to the lower key groove.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a low-pressure scroll compressor with an oil supplying structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a coupling structure of an orbiting scroll, an Oldham ring and an upper frame in the scroll compressor according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper frame having an oil groove according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a hermetic scroll compressor according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper frame having an oil hole according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an plan view of the upper frame;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a scroll compressor according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an upper frame of the scroll compressor according to the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the upper frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the spirit of the invention is not limited to the embodiments, but other embodiments may be easily proposed within the scope of the invention or other retrograde inventions by adding, changing or deleting other components.

First Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1, a scroll compressor includes a driving motor 70 having a rotor 71 and a stator 72, a driving shaft 79 which is rotated by rotation of the driving motor 70 and has an eccentric portion 74 at an upper portion thereof, and an upper frame 40 which is fitted to an upper side of the driving shaft 79 so as to support the driving shaft 79 and has an oil pocket 78 at an edge portion of a center groove.

The scroll compressor further includes a suction portion having a suction pipe 93 for introducing fluid from an outside and a suction chamber 94. In detail, a sliding bush 73 is inserted onto an outer surface of the eccentric portion 74 so as to be surface-contacted with the eccentric portion 74.

The scroll compressor further includes a scroll compressing portion having an orbiting scroll 60 which is positioned at an upper side of the upper frame 40, for compressing coolant sucked through the suction pipe 93 by an orbiting motion, a fixed scroll 80 which is engaged with the orbiting scroll 60 and fixed to the upper side of the upper frame 40, and a Oldham ring 2 which allows the orbiting scroll 60 to be orbited in the fixed scroll 80.

In addition, the scroll compressor further includes an exhaust portion having an exhaust port 90 which vertically passes through a center portion of the fixed scroll 80, an exhaust chamber 91 which is formed at an uppermost portion of the compressor and communicated with the exhaust port 90, and an exhaust pipe 92 which is disposed at one side of the exhaust chamber 91 so as to exhaust accumulated coolant.

Moreover, the scroll compressor further includes an oil supplying portion having an oil passage 76 formed along an inner portion of the driving shaft 79, and an oil feeder 75 for feeding oil to the oil passage 76.

Hereinafter, an operation of the scroll compressor as described above will be described.

First, low-pressure coolant, which undergoes an expansion process, is introduced through the suction pipe 93 to the suction chamber 94. The introduced coolant is moved to the scroll compressing portion. The coolant is compressed in the scroll compressing portion and changed into high-pressure coolant side of the shell 110. The high-pressure coolant is moved through the exhaust port 90 to the exhaust chamber 91 and then exhausted through the exhaust pipe 92 to an outside.

Meanwhile, while the compression process is performed, the oil stored in a lower chamber of the compressor is pushed up by the oil feeder 75 rotated with rotation of the driving shaft 79. The oil is raised along the oil passage 76 to an upper end of the driving shaft 79 and spouted to an upper side of the eccentric portion 74. The spouted oil is run down along a gap between the eccentric portion 74 and the sliding bush 73, thereby functioning as lubricating oil. Then, the oil is accumulated in the oil pocket formed at the upper frame 40. The accumulated oil is infiltrated into a fractional portion between a lower surface of the orbiting scroll 60 and a thrust surface of the upper frame 40 by revolution of the orbiting scroll. Thus, a contact surface is lubricated.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a coupling structure of an orbiting scroll, an Oldham ring and an upper frame in the scroll compressor according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the scroll compressor of the present invention comprises the upper frame 40, the orbiting scroll 60 disposed at the upper side of the upper frame 40, the thrust surface 41 contacted with the lower surface of the orbiting scroll 60 and the Oldham ring fitted to the upper frame 40. At a body of the Oldham ring 50, there are provided an upper key 52 which is protruded upward, and a lower key 51 which is protruded downward. An upper key groove 61 is formed on the lower surface of the orbiting scroll 60 so that the upper key 52 of the Oldham ring 50 is accommodated therein. A lower key groove 42 is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the thrust surface 41 of the upper frame 40 so that the lower key 51 of the Oldham ring 50 is accommodated therein. The oil pocket 44 for accumulating the oil is formed at a center portion of the upper frame 40. An oil groove 43 is formed to be extended from the oil pocket 44 to the lower key groove 42.

Hereinafter, an operation and function of the scroll compressing portion will be described.

The oil movement from the lower chamber of the scroll compressor to the oil pocket 44 is the same as in FIG. 1. Therefore, the description thereof will be omitted.

The oil accumulated in the oil pocket 43 is moved along the oil groove 43 formed on the thrust surface 41 in a direction of the outer circumferential surface of the upper frame 40. The oil in the oil groove 43 is evenly spread on the entire thrust surface 41 by the orbiting scroll revolved at the upper side of the upper frame 40.

Further, the oil flown along the oil groove 43 is finally moved to the lower key groove 42. Then, the oil is drenched to the lower key groove 42 and the lower key 51 of the Oldham ring 50, thereby functioning as the lubricating oil.

Meanwhile, a shape of the oil groove 43 is not limited to the embodiment. The oil groove 43 can have any shape for allowing the oil to be smoothly moved.

Further, a depth of the oil groove 43 is not limited to any particular value.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper frame having an oil groove according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, one end of the oil groove 43 is started from an outer circumferential surface of the oil pocket 44, and the other end is connected to the lower key groove 42. Therefore, the oil accumulated in the oil pocket 44 is moved along the oil groove 43 to the lower key groove 42.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a hermetic scroll compressor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the upper frame 40 according to the present invention comprises a thrust surface 41 which is contacted with a lower surface of an orbiting scroll 60, a lower key groove 42 which is accommodated in an Oldham ring (not shown) so as to be linearly reciprocated, and an oil pocket 44 formed at a center portion of the upper frame 40 so that the oil is accommodated therein.

In order for the oil from the oil pocket 44 to be run to the lower key 42, there is provided an oil hole 45 formed to penetrate from one end to the other end of the lower key 42.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper frame having an oil hole according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the upper frame.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the oil hole 45 of the present invention is formed at a desired depth from an upper side surface of the upper frame 40. One end of the oil hole 45 is connected with the oil pocket 44, and the other end is connected with the lower key groove 42. Therefore, the oil accommodated in the oil pocket 44 is run along the oil hole 45 and arrived at the lower key groove 42. At the lower key groove 42, lubricating action is smoothly achieved, while the lower key 51 of the Oldham ring 50 is reciprocated. Further, the oil is evenly spread over the thrust surface 41.

Meanwhile, a diameter of the oil hole 45 and the depth of the oil hole 45 from the thrust surface 41 are not limited to particular values.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a scroll compressor according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, an upper frame of a scroll compressor according to the present invention comprises a oil groove 43 formed at an upper side surface thereof, and an oil hole 45 formed at a position which is below a bottom surface of the oil groove 43 in a desired length.

Therefore, the oil in the oil pocket 44 is run along the oil groove 43 and the oil hole 45 to the lower key groove 42.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an upper frame of the scroll compressor according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the upper frame.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the oil accumulated in the oil pocket 44 is moved along the oil hole 45 to the lower key groove 42. Thus, the oil can be more rapidly spread in comparison with in the related art scroll compressor in which the oil is spread through the thrust surface 41 to the lower key groove 42. The oil groove 43 and the oil hole 45 are formed together in the upper frame 40. Therefore, the oil moved along the oil groove 43 functions as lubricating oil on the thrust surface, and the oil moved along the oil hole 45 functions as the lubricating oil between the lower key 51 and the lower key groove 42 of the upper frame 40.

Furthermore, although an overload is applied to an upper portion of the orbiting scroll 60, the lubricating action of the oil is not influenced.

Since the hermetic scroll compressor according to the present invention is provided with the oil groove and/or the oil hole on the upper frame, the oil can be smoothly supplied between the thrust surface of the upper frame and the lower surface of the orbiting scroll, through the overload is applied to the compressor.

Accordingly, since the oil can be smoothly supplied, wear of components, fractional heat, noise and vibration due to the friction can be effectively reduced or eliminated.

Furthermore, since the oil is rapidly supplied to the key portion of the Oldham ring, the Oldham ring can be smoothly reciprocated, thereby reducing the noise and vibration.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A hermetic scroll compressor comprising: an upper frame which supports an upper side of a driving shaft and has an oil pocket at a center portion thereof so that oil can be accumulated therein; a fixed scroll fixed to the upper frame; an orbiting scroll which is revolved between the fixed scroll and the upper frame so as to compress fluid; an Oldham ring having two upper keys inserted into a side of the orbiting scroll and two lower keys inserted into a side of the upper frame; a lower key groove formed at the upper frame so that the lower key is accommodated therein so as to be linearly reciprocated; and an oil supplying structure formed at a body of the upper frame so as to supply the oil from the oil pocket to the lower key groove.
 2. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the oil supplying structure is an oil hole formed to be penetrated from the oil pocket to the lower key groove.
 3. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the oil supplying structure is an oil groove formed on a thrust surface of the upper frame for supporting the orbiting scroll and formed from the oil pocket to the lower key groove.
 4. A hermetic scroll compressor comprising: an upper frame which supports an upper side of a driving shaft; a scroll compressing portion disposed at the upper frame so as to be revolved to compress fluid; an oil supplying structure formed at a body of the upper frame so as to supply the oil to the scroll compressing portion; and an oil supplying portion having an oil passage formed along an inner portion of a driving shaft so as to supply the oil to the oil supplying structure, and an oil feeder for pushing up the oil to the oil passage.
 5. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the upper frame includes an oil pocket for supplying the oil to the oil supplying structure.
 6. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the scroll compressing portion includes a fixed scroll fixed to the upper frame.
 7. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the scroll compressing portion includes an orbiting scroll, which is revolved on the upper frame.
 8. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the scroll compressing portion further includes an Oldham ring having upper keys symmetrically formed on an upper side surface thereof to be protruded in a desired height and lower keys symmetrically formed on a lower side surface thereof to be protruded in a desired height.
 9. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the oil supplying structure is a hole formed from a center portion of the upper frame in a diameter direction so that the oil supplied from the oil supplying portion can be moved to the scroll compressing portion.
 10. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the oil supplying structure is formed from a center portion of the upper frame in a diameter direction so as to be caved in a desired depth, so that the oil supplied from the oil supplying portion can be moved to the scroll compressing portion.
 11. A hermetic scroll compressor comprising: an upper frame which supports an upper side of a driving shaft and has an oil storing portion at a center portion thereof so that oil can be accumulated therein; at least one or more scroll member which is revolved on the upper frame so as to compress fluid; an Oldham ring having at least one upper key coupled to the scroll member and at least one lower key inserted into a side of the upper frame; and an oil supplying structure formed at a side of the upper frame so as to supply oil from the oil storing portion to a surface of the lower key.
 12. The compressor according to claim 11, wherein the oil supplying structure is a though-hole which is horizontally formed at a desired depth from an upper side surface of the upper frame.
 13. The compressor according to claim 11, wherein the oil supplying structure is horizontally caved from an upper side surface of the upper frame.
 14. The compressor according to claim 11, further comprising an Oldham ring having an upper key protruded on an upper side surface thereof and a lower key protruded on a lower side surface thereof; and an upper frame having a lower key groove in which the lower key is accommodated to be reciprocated, an oil pocket formed at a center portion thereof to accumulate oil, and an oil groove and oil hole for supplying the oil from the oil pocket to the lower key groove.
 15. The compressor according to claim 14, wherein the oil groove is formed on the upper side surface of the upper frame to be caved in a desired depth, and the oil pocket is communicated with the lower key.
 16. The compressor according to claim 14, wherein the oil hole is formed at a desired depth from the upper side surface of the upper frame, and the oil pocket is communicated with the lower key.
 17. The compressor according to claim 14, further comprising an orbiting scroll disposed at an upper side of the Oldham ring and having an upper key groove in which the upper key is inserted.
 18. The compressor according to claim 14, further comprising a fixed scroll fixed to the upper frame and having a compressing chamber therein. 